We want to begin our study of the new birth by looking at three texts of Scripture that speak to this vital subject. The first passage shows not only the absolute necessity of being born again, but also states that being born again is essential before one is able to even “see” the kingdom of God. In other words, we must have sight, the ability to see, before we can actually see. It is important to remember that seeing does not give us sight, but we see only because we have sight. The gift of spiritual sight is given to us in regeneration, and we see, or believe, because we have been given spiritual sight.

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3 NIV)

The second text also shows that the new birth must first take place before faith in Christ is possible; we will work this out in detail later.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:10-13 NIV)

The third text shows that man has no more power over the new birth than he has over the wind. Both the wind and the Holy Spirit “blow” as they please. Everyone knows that man does not have the power to either make the wind blow or force it to stop blowing. However, many sincere Christians do not realize that the same thing is true of the Holy Spirit’s work in regeneration. A sinner cannot cause the Holy Spirit to regenerate his dead heart, nor can he stop that work when the Holy Spirit purposes to do it! That is exactly what Jesus meant in this verse.

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (John 3:8 NIV)

When studying the Scriptures, it is often necessary to isolate different aspects of truth. However, we must never try to isolate them in personal experience. Justification and sanctification are two entirely different things, yet it is impossible to experience one without the other. Both are an integral part of becoming and being a Christian, but they must be isolated to be studied. This is also true of regeneration by the Holy Spirit and personal faith in Christ for forgiveness. Regeneration is an essential part of salvation, but it is not to be equated with being saved. It is a misuse of the word salvation to limit it to just one aspect of being saved. Salvation has at least three different aspects.

1. A Christian is truly saved right now (Eph. 2:8, 9—“have been”). 

2. A Christian is in the process of being saved every day (I Cor. 1:18 “…us who are being saved…”).

3. A Christian is waiting in hope to be fully saved in the future (Rom. 5:10 “…we were [past tense] reconciled to him…having been reconciled…shall be [future tense] saved…”). Notice there is a clear distinction between reconciled and saved even though both are essential parts of salvation. 

Sadly, our generation has confused “being saved” with “being born again.” One of these, being saved, has to do with benefits, and the other has to do with power or life. One is the work and act of the sinner; the other, the work and act of the Holy Spirit. Notice the following two texts that show this distinction.

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, [You must] Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:30-31)

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth [pleases], and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:7-8)

Acts 16:31 is teaching the necessity of a sinner having faith in order to be saved. God does not repent for us. The sinner must repent and believe. These are the acts of men and not the acts of God. Faith and repentance are not vicarious. If you have a problem understanding the relationship of these two things, see our tract, “God’s Part and Man’s Part in Salvation.” 

On the other hand, John 3:8 is referring to power and ability. The work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration is likened to the blowing of the wind. A sinner can no more command or stop the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit than he can make the wind blow or stop a tornado. This is why regeneration is sometimes called “irresistible grace.”

Being born again and being saved are both essential. It is impossible to experience one without experiencing the other. The question is not one of time and sequence, that is, which is first and which is second, but rather one of cause and effect. Does our faith cause the new birth, or does the new birth cause faith? The question, “Why does one person believe and become saved, while another rejects Christ and is lost?” will be answered differently according to our understanding of the nature of regeneration. In one case, we will attribute the cause of man’s faith to his free will, and in the other case we will give the Holy Spirit the glory for enabling us, by regenerating us, to believe and be saved. Perhaps the following will help.

Being saved— Acts 16:31	Being born again— John 3:3, 8
Benefits	Life and power
Our work—our faith essential	God’s work—our faith not involved
Acts 16:30—“What must I do?”	John 3:7, 8—“What must I do?”
Answer—“you must believe”	No answer! God must do something!
Faith—an act of man	Regeneration—a sovereign act of God
God does not believe for us	God gives new heart—we believe
Receive benefits of salvation	Receive spiritual life and power
Acts 18:27	1 Peter: 1:2–3; James 1:18